Aside from picking a new manager, a priority for Chelsea this summer will be reducing the size of their squad, especially if they fail to get into Europe and Newcastle United are lurking.
Chelsea have a massive squad at the moment, and that will only increase in the summer. A total of 16 players will return from loans at the end of the season, while four new players have been confirmed so far.
Are you taking Nicolas Jackson back at Chelsea in the summer? Is he better than what we’ve got?
Joe Cole on Nicolas Jackson
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha are set to join and are expected to be a part of the first-team set-up. Youngsters Datsan Satpaev and Denner will also arrive at Stamford Bridge come the summer.
That means players will leave, with Nicolas Jackson’s future up in the air after an indifferent loan spell at Bayern Munich. Liam Delap also faces an uncertain future after managing just one Premier League goal.
Delap or Jackson – the striker Newcastle would prefer to sign
Meanwhile, Newcastle are looking for a new striker after Nick Woltemade and Yoann Wissa failed to replace the loss of Alexander Isak on Tyneside. The Toon are looking to raid Chelsea come the summer.
Eddie Howe, who himself has been linked with Chelsea, may look to take advantage of an incoming fire sale in West London. Newcastle have been touted with moves for Chelsea duo Jackson and Delap.
Liam Delap of Chelsea
Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Now, Ben Jacobs has told Give Me Sport which of the two are more likely to go to Newcastle. He says that Newcastle would prefer to sign former Ipswich Town and Man City striker Delap, over Jackson.
“There is interest in Liam Delap, particularly, I’m told, from Newcastle United, who will add another striker this summer. “Nicolas Jackson is going to return. The obligation to buy was always near impossible.
“But links with Newcastle or new ones at this stage are wide of the mark. If Newcastle are going to raid Chelsea for a striker it would more likely be Delap than Nico Jackson as of now,” Jacobs reported.
Jackson could still have a future at Chelsea despite loan
Former Villarreal striker Jackson has a whopping seven years left on his Chelsea contract and the Blues must make a decision when it comes to the 31-time Senegal international in the coming months.
How Chelsea COULD line-up with Nicolas Jackson
Could this side win the Premier League?
There is a world where Jackson is retained by Chelsea. According to Paul Merson, Cole Palmer misses playing with the Bayern loanee, and his direct nature as a striker. Joao Pedro likes to drop in and create.
Merson recently said: “You’d love to play with Jackson because he always went that way (forwards). You know what I mean? When they go like that, everybody drops off. I’m the 10, I can get on the ball.”
Jackson is set for a turbulent summer, but it has not been ruled out that the forward could end up staying at Chelsea with Delap the one to make way. Certainly, Delap needs game time to prove himself, again.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox